3 Red Fox
Now the whole world has fully changed!
There's definitely more existence like me in this world!
My downside right now is that I don't have aerial capabilities.
I turned to look at the chicks.
If you succeed in taming them for your own use…
Then it is equivalent to having extra strength in this world!!
Now that things have gotten like this, I can't change anything.
This hard-won second life…
This time…
No matter how dangerous this world is.
I'll survive no matter what!!
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In the depths of the forest, where shadows danced and ancient powers stirred.
A howling wind echoed through the trees, heralding the arrival of ferocious wolves.
With fur that rippled like tempestuous gales, it prowled the night, a creature born of harsh winds and moonlight! [1]
Amidst towering foliage, a Giant Ant emerged from the undergrowth, its mandibles poised for battle.
Its armored exoskeleton gleamed with an otherworldly iridescence, a testament to its formidable strength!
In a labyrinthine web spun across the branches, the Spider Queen awaited in sinister elegance.
Her many eyes gleamed with predatory intelligence as she wove her intricate traps, ensnaring unwary prey!
⇪
PR/N: Think of these as a sort of foreshadowing, like images of various creatures that are in rapid succession.
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*Snap
[Ding! Killed a Rabbit, Evolution Point +0.6]
With a quick whip, Xuan Wu killed a rabbit that had wandered too close into his vicinity.
[Total Evolution Points: 0.9]
"Haven't hunted animals in a while…"
"Come, there is meat to eat!"
With a smile, Xuan Wu looked at the peregrine falcons that were eagerly opening their mouths .
He used his "branches" to lower the rabbit meat into the nest of these little guys.
"How horrifying…!" Seeing them viciously tear apart the rabbit into several parts so quickly made him shudder a little…
Then, he used his tentacle to stroke them.
Perhaps because they were familiar with him, these little guys selectively ignored his teasing. Some even closed their eyes, as if enjoying the moment.
"Good job..." He smiled and continued to stroke their newly grown feathers.
Xuan Wu had once thought that it would feel strange to use his tongue as his main limbs.
But it turns out you only have to take them out of your mouth when you need something.
But keeping your mouth open like this…
If you were human you would have surely dislocated your jaw by now.
Or maybe you'd have it feeling sore.
But Xuan Wu who was now a monster had no such weaknesses.
Also, he doesn't need food.
Yes.
This was also something that shocked him as well.
Xuan Wu had discovered a while ago while experimenting that his new body didn't require any material sustenance.
He wondered if it was due to his body feeding off the strange spiritual energies in the air instead…
Either how he didn't need to worry about food.
With occasional evolution point gains, he could quickly obtain some animal corpses.
Because of this, these little guys never lacked food .
[Absorb Spiritual Energy +0.1 Evolution Points]
[Evolution Points: 1]
"Oh! Finally got some Evolution Points!"
Having spent a considerable amount of time in this world, he had discovered a few things.
Firstly, there were three main ways he could obtain Evolution Points.
The first involves eating large amounts of plants and other vegetation. This method was by far his least favorite, as it required him to consume vast quantities to gain even a few points.
The second method involved defeating and killing other animals and beasts. This was the process he had been using thus far, as it was the most effective and fastest way for him to gain points.
The third method was the most mysterious to him. Occasionally, the system would inform him that he had acquired Evolution Points by absorbing Spiritual Energy. However, this had not happened to him when he was first reincarnated.
He had a few theories as to why this was. "Perhaps the spiritual energies have become thicker and more abundant, even affecting me." he mused.
He remarked, remembering how the animals around him were also changing according to how abundant the energy was.
After a moment, his consciousness was pulled to the attribute panel, where he saw the accumulated evolution points.
With his current evolution points and what he already had, he was just on the cusp of a breakthrough.
It's worth noting that all 12 of his main limbs had already been fully strengthened.
He had been saving up evolution points because he wanted to evolve to the next level of strengthening.
He had discovered some new things after having maxed out his tongue ability.
Tongue?
It still felt weird to refer to them as tongues.
Can I just refer to them as arms?
Hmm…
Limbs?
I guess not after all… [2]
All 12 of my tongues have been strengthened, Next…"
"I'll strengthen the slime fluid, and finally my entire body!"
[Parts That Can Be Strengthened:
Mutated Tongue: 12/12
Eyes: 2/2
Mutable Solution: 0/1
Bone Shard: 0/1 ]
[Ding! Please Confirm Whether to Consume 1 Evolution Points to Strengthen Mutable Solution.]
"Confirmed!"
Nodding his head, Xuan Wu was also a bit excited.
Instead of consuming points more like a tongue, strengthening the Mutable Solution required evolution points from the very beginning.
Xuan Wu still didn't understand why the cost of this ability was so expensive!
10 times!
The demand for evolution points here was not understandable!
[...]
That was what he said, but deep inside he knew that this was a crucial part that he couldn't skip.
This fluid was essentially the root of his body, acting almost like his base and core, and the strengthening of the "root" must be the top priority.
Even so, Xuan Wu was curious as to what benefits there were.
Aside from the Mutable Solution, there was also the Bone Shard, the bone-like piece that was inside his body…
He couldn't even think of why he'd need to upgrade such a part.
As of now, he still had many weaknesses.
If he could cover them all, he could become a mythical entity.
A monster among monsters even!
A demon or a spirit?
Thinking about this, Xuan Wu also started to consider what he would be called in the future.
Just then, Xuan Wu suddenly felt a huge pain.
It was as if some scorching power had rushed into his body, and the turbulent energy couldn't even be digested before it broke through the barriers of Xuan Wu's cells.
pain.
a piercing pain.
With a bubbling sound, as if his body was about to burst, the intense searing pain coming from inside him caused his body to tremble uncontrollably as if shaking.
What was even more terrifying was that these strengthened limbs were flying around randomly, causing a storm.
For a while, the area around Xuan Wu became a forbidden zone where no one could enter. Only a bird's nest at the top of the tree remained undisturbed.
Despite the pain, Xuan Wu did not forget about the young birds in the nest.
"The strengthening of the solution is so brutal!?" Xuan Wu endured the bitterness.
And shortly after that,
*Boom*
As if the old solution seemed to have boiled and bubbled away, revealing a newer mixture that was infused with even more magical properties.
Its shimmering glow radiated softly, almost as if it carried mysterious effects.
Though its color remained the same, one couldn't help but think it somehow made him look better!
"Hu…hu…"
Xuan Wu tried catching his breath.
After the severe pain, Xuan Wu felt like he was about to finish praying.
Looking at his new self Xuan Wu couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
What were the benefits?
With his tongue, its effects were immediate and very apparent!
With this, though he felt slightly different, he didn't know what new abilities he had just acquired!
*Sigh…
With no other way to find out right now, he decided to put this matter on the back burner for a short while…
Besides, given enough time his ability would show itself right?
…probably.
He then opened his panel once more, seeing more new things!
"What's this?"
[Parts That Can Be Strengthened:
Enhanced Mutated Tongue: 0/12
Eyes: 2/2
Mutable Solution: 1/1
Bone Shard: 0/1 ]
Xuan Wu had a few questions pop up in his mind.
The new addition was caused by him strengthening his Mutable Solution.
Was this its main merit or did it have another attribute?
"Hmn…" Regardless, the benefit for Xuan Wu was already enough, with this, he had another clear path of strengthening!
But at this moment, as if sensing something, Xuan Wu suddenly froze.
"Tsk tsk, curiosity can kill people, you know."
Following Xuan Wu's gaze, in a dense thicket not far away, there were a pair of fiery red eyes staring fixedly in the direction of Xuan Wu's body…
Without moving, Xuan Wu decisively played dead…
"…"
Who am I kidding?
On the other side, after struggling for half an hour, the owner of the fiery red eyes could no longer resist his curiosity and stealthily crawled out of the dense thicket.
"A red fox?"
Looking at the red fox that was slowly approaching with deep vigilance, Xuan Wu's heart stirred.
Red foxes, also known as Arctic foxes, are widely distributed and mainly located in the northern hemisphere.
They are quite cunning beasts and prefer to act alone.
They hunt at night and usually come out at night, hiding in their dens during the day.
And now, it was estimated that it was attracted by the noise caused by Xuan Wu. After all, the hearing of red foxes is exceptionally developed.
And here, it is worth mentioning that this red fox seems to be somewhat special.
Its body is much larger, measuring over one meter. The average adult red fox is only about 70 centimeters long.
Moreover, compared to the average red fox, its eyes are even more strange, as if they are burning flames, very gorgeous.
Step, step, step.
As it approached, the red fox became more and more cautious, even its body was taut like a bow.
However, the deadly allure that came from afar made it difficult for it to stop its footsteps.
Yes, deadly allure.
A faint fragrance made its blood boil.
It was unable to escape the enslavement of its instincts, and the red fox gradually approached the strange slime not far away.
*Thud
But just as the fox was beginning to close the distance between them it suddenly fell.
"Hmn?"
Xuan Wu looked slightly confused, he didn't know why it had suddenly fallen down.
But with his enhanced perception, Xuan Wu immediately noticed what was wrong.
A dark black spot could be seen on the side of the fox, staining its thick fur coat.
He reached over and touched it a little.
"Kyuu, Kyuu..!"
Xuan Wu rubbed his imaginary chin a little. "It's not dead yet, but why is the wound black?"
Is it poison…?
I can get Evolution Points but the birds won't eat it!
[Slime Solution Now Has The Effects of Detoxification, Hemostasis, and Recovery of Physical Strength!]
[After use, The Mutated Tongue Will Lose Its Strengthening Effect and Return to Normal State!]
H-huh!?
Xuan Wu was surprised by the system's apparent answer.
He didn't have to experiment to find out his new ability anymore!
"In this case, I'll help it get rid of the poison.
I'll kill it after it gets better.
That way I can have evolution points and feed the birds too!"
"Hehe, then use the obtained evolution points to strengthen the tongue again."
With this Xuan Wu began to fiddle with his tendrils.
He positioned one of them right above the black spot.
With a slight glow, a drop of essence flowing within him formed at the end of his limb.
The liquid that seeped from the limb solidified into a drop and fell on the red fox.
[Organism Detected With Poison, Poison Removed! ]
Immediately after, to Xuan Wu's astonishment, the red fox trembled slightly.
Then, like it had been stimulated by something, a soft glow began enveloping its whole body.
[The Wound Has Stopped Bleeding and Is Healing…Stamina Is Being Restored!]
[Mutated Tongue: 11/12]
"Hahaha! Amazing! I'm simply living Ha Tuo!" [3]
At this moment The fox rose slowly, its eyes aglow with an eerie green light.
"Now that you are detoxified…Become my evolution point!"
With a quick movement, several limbs were already flying towards the fox.
"Kyuu!"
Just as it was about to be pierced by what looked like a thousand tentacles, it rubbed itself against the exterior of Xuan Wu's body…
"W...Wha! No...Don't rub against me! Do you think I won't kill you if you do this?"
"A mere Evolution Point…How presumptuous!!"
It then rubbed its head against him, almost as if there were magical particles flying out of where he was snuggling against Xuan Wu.
Xuan Wu's eyes mellowed a little as he took a close look at the fox…
"..."
With his enhanced perception, Xuan Wu could see clearly the sparkling and translucent eyes of the red fox, which were like rubies.
Beautiful.
Really beautiful.
As if it did not belong to this world.
"So cute! I can't stand it ! ! ! !"
"I don't care about evolution or anything! Let me pet you first!"
He picked up the fox by its side, rubbing it against his face.
Eyes like jewels and hair that's soft as hell!
Right at that instant the fox in his arms began to glow brightly, as if a mysterious light had enveloped its entire body!
"What!?"
"Why is it glowing all of a sudden!?"
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"Is this…Evolution!?"
Authors thoughts:
[1] They still look like wolves, not like they're made of air or darkness.
[2] This is Xuan Wu not the author speaking, incase readers are confused
[3] Ha Tuo-华佗 was a famous physician and folk hero in Chinese history, known for developing medical innovations such as anesthesia and moxibustion. He is celebrated as one of the "Four Great Masters"
